Teaching and Learning – Learning Through Play in the Foundation Stage 

Play is the most natural way for children to learn and provides the time and space to discover, explore, imagine, create, experiment, problem solve and most importantly, have fun. The Northern Ireland curriculum(p9) states that young children learn best when learning is interactive, practical and enjoyable and recognises that well planned and challenging play helps children to understand and learn about themselves and the world they live.  Play is fundamental in supporting pupils to apply their knowledge, skills and understanding to real life and purposeful contexts across the curriculum.

These sessions, led by Foundation Stage practitioners and principals, will support you to implement engaging, play based learning experiences, immersed in thinking skills ans personal capabilities. You will have the opportunity to learn from your peers and reflect upon your practice during the online and face-to-face sessions. 

‘Play is the highest expression of human development in childhood, for it alone is the free expression of what is in a child’s soul.’  

Friedrich Froebel 

By participating in this programme, you will be required to reflect on your current practice and identify an aspect for further development.  At the end of the programme you will be asked to share your learning and the impact on provision and outcomes for children.

Please select one date as the same session will be repeated on both dates.

All participants should register individually even if the training is viewed within a group setting as this information is required for statistical purposes.